Lake Elsinore, CA — In anticipation of Earth Day 2026, the Esther Kim-Varet for Congress campaign today announced a major endorsement from the NRDC Action Fund, marking the first national organization endorsement for the critical red to blue race in California’s 40th Congressional District. CA-40 is the only U.S. House of Representatives contest in the nation with two incumbent Republican candidates, and has been designated by the DCCC as a “District in Play”.
Backed by more than 3 million members, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is one of the nation’s most powerful environmental advocacy organizations—using law, science, and policy to fight climate change, expand clean energy, and protect public health. This endorsement is made by the NRDC’s Action Fund.
“As a mother and dedicated environmental activist with a decades-long record, Esther has been fighting for clean air, clean water, and protected land long before it was a campaign issue,” said Jed Ober, managing director of the NRDC Action Fund. “That’s the kind of leadership we need a lot more of in Washington: someone with a proven commitment to protecting the health of our families, our planet and the next generation.”
The unusual endorsement in the election’s primary highlights Esther Kim-Varet’s longtime commitment to the environment in both her professional and philanthropic activities over the last 15 years. From air quality in Orange County to water security in Riverside County and protecting the Cleveland National Forest, her campaign is focused on delivering real, local results through science-driven policy and clean energy investment. The federally-controlled Cleveland National Forest covers nearly 50% of the new district. The Cleveland National Forest is home to one of the most active wildfire corridors in California, which has directly impacted the souring rates of home insurance costs.
This announcement comes during a week where Trump just announced that the U.S. Forest Service will be dismantled.
The current GOP representatives of CA40, Young Kim and Ken Calvert both receive a “F-“ rating with the League of Conservation Voters. These representatives, who have taken millions of dollars from the fossil fuel and logging industries, have some of the worst performance scores in Congress.
“Donald Trump and his cronies have declared a war on our environment—handing the fossil fuel industry its wishlist on a silver platter,” said Kim-Varet. “Clean air and safe water aren’t abstract issues—they’re cost-of-living issues, economic issues, and public health issues for families across Orange County and Riverside County.”
In Congress, Esther has pledged to restore and defend the full strength of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and key federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and NOAA.
Campaign leadership called the endorsement a turning point—signaling growing national momentum behind Kim-Varet’s candidacy and her message: protecting the environment means protecting people, lowering costs, and building a stronger future.
In connection with NRDC Action Fund’s endorsement, the Esther Kim-Varet for Congress campaign also today announced that Esther has been selected by GiveGreen as its sole candidate for California’s 40th District. GiveGreen is the leading online donation platform for donors to support pro-environmental candidates, operated by NRDC Action Fund in collaboration with the League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund:
https://www.givegreen.com/candidates/esther-kim-varet
NRDC Action Fund’s endorsement adds to a growing list of national, state, and local allies backing Kim-Varet’s campaign, including (but not limited to) the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (ASPIRE PAC), VoteMama, Rep. Laura Friedman, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Gil Cisneros, Rep. Marilyn Strickland, State Senator Catherine Blakespear, Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, Mayor Pro-Tem of Lake Elsinore Tim Sheridan, former Rep. Harley Rouda, and former Rep. Dean Phillips.
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California’s newly drawn 40th Congressional District, spanning portions of Riverside County and Orange County, is one of the most consequential U.S. House district battlegrounds in the nation. CA-40 includes the cities of Rancho Santa Margarita, Murrieta, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and Canyon Lake as well as parts of Mission Viejo, Orange, Anaheim and Corona.
This endorsement highlights Esther Kim Varet’s focus on environmental issues that affect CA-40, from clean energy and water management to wildfire resilience. This is consistent with her stated policy positions that will tackle climate change and help protect communities from fire risks.